Chapter 44: A Kiss and Public Display of Affection
[You and Shoko became lovers.]
[Love is a magical force; both you and Shoko are brimming with smiles.]
[You often walk down the street hand in hand, chatting about many things. But if one were to listen closely, they would find it is all nutritious nonsense—like what you ate today, which foods are delicious, or what recipes are simple to make. Even so, immersed in the heat of passion, neither of you notices this in the slightest. You only feel happiness.]
[Love turns people into idiots.]
[Your lifestyle habits have changed significantly.]
[You no longer go home alone. Your weekends are fully occupied by your passionate romance.]
[Even during the breaks between classes, you two are inseparable, clinging to each other.]
[At noon on the rooftop, Shoko gently feeds you as you lie there, comfortably basking in the sun, and she treasures every second of it.]
[After school in the evening, you go to the Service Club together to tutor others. Your attitude toward Shoko versus Fumino and the others is like night and day.]
Noon.
On the rooftop.
In fact, students were generally not allowed on the rooftop. But who was Haruka?
He was the most famous and popular figure in the entire school. If he said the word, he could become Student Council President right now!
Even the school administration took Haruka seriously.
Why?
Because that is the privilege of an academic genius.
Even an "Iron Fist Teacher" like Shizuka Hiratsuka could only turn a blind eye to Haruka.
As for the other equally famous "Ice Face Teacher"—Mafuyu Kirisu—she was currently still in a state of conflict, perhaps even doubting her life choices.
Because Fumino Furuhashi and Rizu Ogata's grades had indeed improved. At the very least, they were no longer black holes in their weak subjects.
This made her think of many things, such as her past self who had given up on her own talent...
In a corner of the rooftop.
Shoko, dressed in her school uniform, sat on a cushion in seiza style. She held a bento box in her hand, filled with Haruka's favorite foods.
And resting on her lap was Haruka, lying there comfortably.
The sunlight was slightly intoxicating, the breeze gentle.
Being fed by a beauty.
Life was truly wonderful.
After a long while, Haruka opened his eyes. "Shoko, do you think I can trust you?"
?
Shoko looked at Haruka in confusion, not understanding why he would suddenly say that, but she nodded nonetheless.
She trusted Haruka completely.
Holding back a smile, Haruka took a heart-shaped box out of his pocket. "Here. I only have this one heart, so handle it with care."
?
Shoko paused for a moment, then her face instantly turned beet red. She lightly slapped Haruka's chest.
But rather than a slap, the force behind it felt more like a caress—a flirtatious gesture between young lovers.
Clearly, Haruka's slightly cheesy pickup line made Shoko very shy.
Haruka burst out laughing. "Come on, take a look. Open it and see."
With her earlobes burning red, Shoko lowered her head and opened the heart-shaped box.
Inside was a silver-white necklace. The pendant was a semi-hollow blue gem. Inside the gem was a photo of Haruka and Shoko, and a line of small characters was engraved around the edge of the stone.
"May the one I love find peace and joy."
"..."
Shoko stared blankly at the necklace.
Actually, unlike ordinary girls, Shoko didn't care about luxury goods or beauty products at all. To her, those things couldn't compare to Haruka simply saying "I love you."
But the photo of her and Haruka inside, along with that inscription, made her instantly fall in love with this gift.
"Do you like it?"
"Mm-hmm." Shoko nodded her head lightly.
"And then?"
?
Shoko was puzzled, looking at Haruka with pure, innocent eyes.
Haruka sighed. "Sigh, it seems you don't like it."
!!
"Ugh, ugh... R-Really... like... Haruka's... gift."
Because she was anxious to explain, Shoko's words were very slurred and unclear.
"You won't even let me put it on you to see. Doesn't that mean you don't like it?"
Haruka pretended to be distressed.
Shoko immediately took the necklace out of the box, handed it to Haruka, and then nudged him anxiously.
Haruka sat up, facing Shoko, and leaned in close.
He gently fastened the necklace around Shoko's fair, tender neck.
At this moment, the distance between the two was incredibly close. They could clearly feel each other's warm breath.
His hot breath brushed against Shoko's pale cheeks, dyeing them with shades of crimson.
The necklace was fastened, but Haruka didn't pull his arms back. Instead, he wrapped them around Shoko.
Heat transferred between the lovers.
Looking at Shoko's bright eyes blinking incessantly and her pink, tender lips, Haruka pressed his cheek against hers.
"Mhm…"
***
Afternoon.
School was over.
Although Haruka and Shoko didn't belong to any club—technically, they were members of the "Go-Home Club"—that didn't mean they had no activities.
Right now, they had arrived at the Service Club.
Here, Fumino Furuhashi and Rizu Ogata had already started studying, and Yukino had begun tutoring them.
But she looked a little troubled.
Her usually cool and detached expression now carried a trace of frustration.
There was no helping it.
In a sense, the two people she was teaching were truly peculiar kinds of idiots.
Tutoring them consumed an extraordinary amount of mental energy. Yet, their talents in their respective fields were astonishingly high, to the point where even Yukino felt inferior.
Strange!
It was too strange!
Every time she taught them, Yukino felt a sense of confusion, wondering if she was actually the idiot or the genius.
Fortunately, this feeling wasn't exclusive to her.
Haruka had arrived.
"Yukino."
"Mm, you're finally here," Yukino said faintly, subconsciously glancing at Haruka and Shoko's tightly clasped hands.
She was used to it by now.
They had been this clingy for days.
Then, Yukino naturally moved away from this area, heading over to Hitori and the others who were practicing music scores on the other side of the clubroom.
Haruka and Shoko sat down close together.
"Come on, I'll teach you."
Fumino Furuhashi nodded repeatedly.
It had to be said.
Perhaps Haruka had a talent for teaching as well. Under his guidance, Fumino felt she was improving every time.
However. It was fine before.
But ever since he and Nishimiya-san became a couple, the two of them were practically glued together, even during tutoring sessions. Every time she was deep in study and looked up, she would find her teacher busy explaining things to his lover instead.
Damn it!
But...
Their relationship is really good...
Fumino, who excelled in literature and had sensitive emotional thinking, was very envious.
Rizu Ogata, sitting next to her, didn't have so many thoughts.
She just felt that Haruka and Shoko's clingy state didn't seem suitable for studying, but she didn't say anything.
Because if Teacher Haruka did something, there must be a reason for it.
The linear-thinking Rizu believed this firmly.
After two hours of tutoring.
Haruka and Yukino would swap places.
Haruka chatted about music with Hitori and Kazusa Touma.
"Look, the key to the Fifth Etude lies in the word 'gentle' and 'soft.' The steps of the melody must be slow."
"I'll play it once; you guys listen."
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